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[Page 16]
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rattle of machine guns and the whirl and crash of bursting whiz-bangs, fired in many cases by gunners looking over open sights. It was little wonder that our attack was held only a few hundred yards from its start, and that despite many gallant attempts, it was absolutely impossible to advance further down that slope, where the appearance of even so much as a head was a sign for renewed activity on the part of the Boche machine gunners. It was clear that no further advanced could be hoped for during daylight. As soon as darkness came, and incidentally with it a change for the worst in the weather, patrols were pushed out. Their work however was considerably hampered by off parties of Americans, who being unable to move during daylight had lain in shell holes under cover of darkness made their way into our lines. The right battalion that had established itself in the HINDENBURG Line early in the morning were engaged in a continuous bombing fight with enemy parties working down from BONY and only maintained their positions with the greatest difficulty.
Early in the night orders were received to employ the reserve brigade in conjunction with the 5th Australian Division in an attack in a North-easterly direction, having as its objective the capture of BONY and the moping up of the HINDENBURG Line as far as the Northern exit of the Tunnel. As it was very unlikely that the 9th A.I. Brigade could be moved in sufficient time, two battalions of the 11th A.I.Brigade were ordered to move down to the area in the vicinity of MALAKOFF WOOD and were transferred to the command of the 11th A.I.Brigade. The march of these two battalions over strange country, covered with shell holes, trenches and wire, through mud, slush and driving rain was a very trying and difficult operation, but one of which the successful accomplishment is a splendid tribute to the leadership of the officers and the spirit of all concerned. The battalion of the 11th A.I. Brigade which commenced the attack on the 3rd Division front had also a very difficult approach march, over bad country and without the possibility of any previous reconnaissance.
At dawn. under cover of a weak barrage, the attack commenced on a one battalion front. The volume of enemy fire and the extraordinary amount of wire, for the most part uncut, forced our troops to take to the trenches; here for the greater part of the day a bitter fight ensued. Our platoons worked up the numerous trenches bombing every yard. The enemy fought stubbornly for every bay and machine gun position, which were often only captured after the whole garrison had ben put out of action. Several times large parties from BONY reinforced his positions and, under cover of trench mortar fire from the village, drove our posts back along the trench. Bitter fighting with bomb and bayonet followed and each time the lost position was retaken and further bays added to our gains. During these local fights, great use was made of enemy grenades and stick bombs of which a plentiful supply had been captured in the first advance on the morning of the 28th. At the same time as the 11th A.I. Brigade were working up the trenches, patrols of the 10th A.I. Brigade endeavoured to advance against BONY from the West. Here, as elsewhere,the most stubborn resistance was met and all patrols were engaged in severe hand to hand fighting. By nightfall the honours were with our men and the line had been advanced close to BONY from the South. Vigorous patrolling maintained pressure on the enemy throughout the night and early on the morning of 1st October BONY was finally captured, the 10th A.I.Brigade working round from the North and the 11th A.I. Brigade from the South.